Fmr. U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning endorses Marco Rubio for president

Former U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky, is endorsing Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in his bid for the White House.

Bunning joins other GOP leaders in Frankfort who are backing Rubio ahead of the March 5 Republican presidential caucus in the commonwealth.

“All too often, conservatives have to choose between a candidate who will fight for the values they care about most and someone who can win,” Bunning said in a statement sent by Rubio’s campaign. “Fortunately, we don’t have to make that choice this year.

“Marco Rubio is a true conservative with a proven track record,” Bunning continued. “He communicates the conservative message in a way that will not only unite our party, but grow it, and gives us the best opportunity to win in November. I am proud to offer him my full support.”

Bunning served as a U.S. Senator from 1999 to 2011, and represented Kentucky’s 4th congressional district from 1987 to 1999. The former politician is also a Hall of Fame Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1955 to 1971.

Rubio has been gathering endorsements across the state since U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, suspended his campaign for the White House.

The Florida Senator also grabbed up a major donor in Kentucky billionaire Joe Craft on Tuesday, according to Politico.

Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics available exclusively on Spectrum News. Pure Politics is the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like his coverage of the backlog of DNA rape kits waiting to be tested in Kentucky. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Pure Politics airs weeknight at 7 and 11:30 on Spectrum News. Follow Nick on Twitter @NStorm_Politics. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.